There’s nothing more frustrating than getting your end-of-the-month paycheck and then realizing that a pretty substantial chunk of it is going straight to your landlord. That doesn’t mean you have to eat cereal for a week, though! This month, take some of these recipes for a spin. Not only are they supremely satisfying, but they’re made with simple ingredients that won’t clean out your wallet.
Baked Gnocci: If you’re feeling lazy but are still craving comfort food, whip up this caprese-inspired cheesy baked gnocchi recipe for dinner tonight. It takes 20 minutes to make, and all you need is store-bought gnocchi, marinara, shredded mozzarella and fresh basil (for #health).
Cold Miso Sesame Noodles: Noodles might just be one of the greatest hacks when you’re looking to stretch a dollar. These miso sesame noodles taste like a healthier version of takeout noodles, and you can dress it up or down with different proteins and veggies if you want. Plus, this recipe makes a ton and it’s great for leftovers.
Chicken Fajitas: An easy, yet flavorful weeknight meal, chicken fajitas are a simple, minimal-ingredient dish that everyone loves. The best part? You can whip these up in less than 30 minutes.
Lemon Spaghetti with Walnuts: You deserve more than just a bowl of pasta and butter for dinner. This recipe is basically that, but elevated. The entire dish comes together in just a few minutes, and is best served hot and blizzard with parmesan cheese.
Firecracker Vegan Lettuce Wraps: Toss all of your preconceived ideas about lettuce wraps out the window. These crispy tofu and noodle-packed lettuce wraps are impossibly delicious and filling, and that creamy umami sauce would probably taste good on a flip flop.
Bacon and Cheese Frittata: This breakfast-for-dinner is so easy and SO satisfying. It’s delish on its own, but 10/10 would recommend serving a big hunk on a buttered roll like a twist on a classic bacon egg and cheese sandwich.
Zucchini Lasagna Roll-Ups: Unlike layered lasagna, these zucchini roll-ups don’t require messing around with noodles, and won’t require a metric ton of cheese and few hours of your time. This is a perfect recipe during the summer when zucchini is abundant!
Black Bean and Corn Quesadilla Pizzas: Chrissy Tiegen has truly never steered us wrong. You can definitely freestyle or take some shortcuts here if you’re crunched for time or missing a few of the spices—this recipe is really just a giant, cheesy nacho.
Foolproof Shakshuka: If there are two things you probably have in your kitchen right now, they’re eggs and canned tomatoes. A satisfying and unique dish, shakshuka is as fun to mop up with some crusty bread as it is to say.
Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese: Some days, you don’t want to feel like an adult. On those days, you should make this insanely satisfying grilled cheese. It’s cheap, flavorful, and will make you forget that rent is due this week.
